Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sadie 'Spins' Yancey on March 5, 2011 at 8:21am

I've been thinking the same thing... here are my current thoughts

- I've taught my intermediates lots and lots of tricks, but there's something missing. There's the heart, the connection, the flow. I'm taking a step back and not teaching new material for a while, they know so many moves and don't use em!

- I go dancing/hooping and observe what I do to get myself into a head/body space where flow is possible. This is different than the warm-ups I usually lead in class. I'm working on translating these into teachable materal

- I've been encouraging everyone to hoop more, outside of class. My flow developed after hundreds of hours, and is still developing after 2-3000 hours in the hoop. Many of my students ONLY hoop during class or jam (esp in winter) so it's difficult to expect FLOW without the time. Also, flow is something you find in your time when that perfect song comes on (...you were JUST thinking about it!), not when a teacher is telling you what to do.

 

k that's all for now, looking forward to what others have to say!

Permalink Reply by erica **Luna Petunia** burroughs on March 5, 2011 at 11:31am

I agree in my beginner class I start with stretching and go into some warmups like swaping the floor, speed shifts, balance, then into new moves ect but Id like for this to be the time for flow practice. BUT....  I also think hoop flow is something you find inside yourself but I do want to find a way to teach it.

Permalink Reply by Swivel Lass on March 5, 2011 at 9:11am

  I agree with Sadie...I think flow isn't something you can really "teach".  It's the emotional connection you have with your hoop.  I tell my students the more you hoop and watch other hoopers, you will start to develop your own hoop-personality.  You have to decide what kind of moves you like or don't like, and why you feel that way.  Then you can start building a reperatoire (spelling?) of moves in your dance arsenal that you can pull out when you hit that song.  You can't do that until you've mastered enough moves to start stringing them together.

 

  Maybe you could design some combo moves that are specific to the classes you've taught in order to illustrate how to do that so students can find their own combos and find their flow.  It took me, personally, a year to find "flow", so depending on how long you've had these students may affect that.

 

  I also remind my students that people progress at different levels, so try to be realistic with your students about how/when they will achieve what they see "other hoopers" doing who are more experienced, encourage them to stick with it, and remind them of all the fun and calories burned along the journey! :)

 

Permalink Reply by Isa "GlitterGirl" Isaacs on March 5, 2011 at 10:45am

i totally think you can teach flow. i think it requires you give the students enough unconscious competence with their moves and a relaxed way of flowing between them. i have a whole fake it till you fake it learning model and it totally works. :)

Permalink Reply by erica **Luna Petunia** burroughs on March 5, 2011 at 11:33am

Please explain, :) I like where this is going.....

Permalink Reply by erica **Luna Petunia** burroughs on March 5, 2011 at 11:39am

i started to introduce a few combos in my beginner class, I think its a good start for my students to connect what they have learned. Now its time for them to make the connection on there own from what feels good  inside the hoop. Your right teaching flow is tricky but I think i just need to come up with the tools to push them to that level and truly understand . I hae a deep connection with my hoop and I compleatly understand what is goin on inside my hoop. Now I just need to figure out to share that :)

Permalink Reply by Darcy ~Coil~ on March 5, 2011 at 2:30pm

Hey there,

 

for an intermediate class some really good flow excersises are to make people sustained spin (with a partner or alone) with their eyes closed or in a candle lit enviornment without their hoop.   This makes people focus on the etheric pull of energy between three things:  you, your energy/movement, and how the hoop becomes an extension of yourself with flow.  With any intermediate or advance class people are more determined and therefore making it a little easier to incorporate how your flow and meditation through the hoop are connected. This is why I gear the first part and the last part of any class towards hoop/yoga excersises.  Also, when working on any tricks, eyes closed helps with connection and flow.  Isolations, transistions, and reversals are great for intermediate as well as choreography which makes students apply what they know to a dance (which creates inevitable flow).  The most important thing to remember is that if someone's heart is not in the right place they will not flow with the hoop, you cannot change this, but you may guide other's hoop journeys in the right direction. 

 

many blessings,

 

~darcy

Permalink Reply by erica **Luna Petunia** burroughs on March 6, 2011 at 6:33pm

thank you for your great words...